The Tales of Eileen Aroon

The Tale of Eileen Aroon and Turlough O’Carolan: Two Legends of Love and Music

The Two O’Neill Versions (Nos. 392 and 393)

Francis O’Neill, a prominent figure in preserving traditional Irish music, included both settings of "Eileen Aroon" in his famous collection Music of Ireland (1903). The differences between these versions highlight the evolution of the tune as it was played by different musicians.

1. O’Neill’s No. 392 – This version is slower and more lyrical, in aeolian mode, often interpreted as a reflective air. Its melody is delicate, meant to capture the tender emotions associated with the song’s theme of love and longing. This setting is the more common and well-known version, usually played with great expressiveness, making it ideal for a harp solo.

2. O’Neill’s No. 393 – The second version (No. 393) is slightly more embellished and structured differently in terms of rhythm. While still recognizable as the same tune, it may have been arranged to suit different performance contexts, such as group settings or dances. O’Neill likely included both variations to reflect the diversity of how “Eileen Aroon” was performed in various regions or by different players.

The Role of Collectors

Both versions included in O’Neill’s collection reflect how traditional music was passed down orally, with individual musicians contributing their own nuances to the performance. As O’Neill gathered tunes from Irish immigrant musicians in Chicago, he was aware that traditional melodies often existed in multiple forms, depending on who played them and in what context. O’Neill likely included both versions to preserve this rich tradition of variation and to provide future musicians with different interpretative options.

The Legacy of “Eileen Aroon”

The song’s widespread popularity ensured that multiple versions would survive. It has been performed and recorded by musicians for centuries, making its way into collections like O’Neill’s as well as other major anthologies. Each version offers musicians the opportunity to express the deep emotional resonance of the song in slightly different ways.

For bedside harp therapists, the slower, more lyrical version (No. 392) may be ideal for creating a soothing and reflective atmosphere, while the second version (No. 393) can offer a more structured, rhythmic variation, depending on the emotional needs of the patient or the setting. Both settings allow for creative expression and connection through the harp’s calming tones.

From the Song’s Side: Eileen Aroon’s Story

Long ago in Ireland, there was a beautiful maiden named Eileen MacMahon. She was in love with Cahir O’Doherty, a noble chieftain, but their love was not without difficulty. Eileen’s family opposed their union, and the lovers faced many challenges. Yet, despite these obstacles, their love was unwavering, and their story became the inspiration for one of Ireland’s most beloved songs: “Eileen Aroon” (“Eibhlín a Rún” in Irish, meaning “Eileen, My Secret”).

The song, dating back to at least the 16th century, filled with tenderness and longing, speaks of Cahir’s devotion to Eileen, pledging that no matter what hardships they face, his love will never falter. It’s a tale of constancy, with Cahir singing of Eileen’s beauty, charm, and the sweetness of their bond. This love, surviving trials and separation, reflects a timeless truth about the power of devotion.

O’Neill’s No. 392, the slower, more reflective version of “Eileen Aroon,” captures this mood of deep, enduring love. It conveys the tenderness of Cahir’s emotions as he looks back on their love. This setting allows the listener to feel the weight of his longing and the delicate beauty of the relationship. In this version, the melody invites contemplation and emotional reflection, ideal for moments of peace and connection in a therapeutic setting.

From O’Carolan’s Side: The Tale of the Magic Cow and His Wife

Now, let’s look at the life of another great figure in Irish tradition: Turlough O’Carolan, the blind harper and composer whose name is intertwined with legends of music and magic. Here is how his tale goes:

As a young man, O’Carolan was hired by a farmer to watch over a herd of cows, one of which was a mystical white cow. According to the farmer, whoever tasted the first milk of the white cow would gain incredible gifts—knowledge of all trades, mastery of skills, and irresistible charm. For months, O’Carolan watched the cows, and then one fateful day, as he grazed them by a large rock, a black bull emerged from the rock and spent the day with the white cow. The farmer warned that the calf of the white cow must never drink its mother’s milk, but when O’Carolan wiped milk from the calf’s mouth, he accidentally tasted it himself.

In that moment, O’Carolan was blessed with extraordinary talents, including his gift for music. But he was also warned never to return to the farmer, for fear of his life. And so, O’Carolan wandered the countryside, sharing his newfound abilities, but with the burden of secrecy.

Eventually, his travels brought him to a shoemaker’s house, where he helped finish a pair of shoes for a lady named Eleanor (Kavanagh). The shoemaker, exhausted, allowed O’Carolan to complete the shoes, though nervous about the perfection required. Upon delivering the shoes to Eleanor, O’Carolan saw her for the first time and fell deeply in love. When she tried on the shoes, only the one made by O’Carolan fit perfectly. In that moment, Eleanor declared, “Whoever made this shoe, I will follow for the rest of my life.” Inspired by his skill and charm, she eloped with him, just as the magic of the white cow had predicted.

In this story, O’Carolan’s life, shaped by magic and love, reflects themes similar to those in “Eileen Aroon.” His tale mirrors the power of love to transform and elevate, just as Cahir’s love for Eileen did. O’Neill’s No. 393, with its slightly more rhythmic and structured form, could be seen as capturing the more dynamic, adventurous side of O’Carolan’s life—the skill, charm, and the magical destiny that followed him wherever he went.

How the Two Stories Fit Together

Though they come from different sources, the stories of Eileen Aroon and O’Carolan both reflect the power of love, fate, and music. In “Eileen Aroon,” we hear the gentle, steadfast devotion of Cahir O’Doherty for Eileen, a love that endures despite opposition and hardship. This is the emotional heart of the first, slower setting (No. 392), making it ideal for calm, reflective moments.

On the other side, O’Carolan’s story is one of enchantment, chance, and transformation. His life was shaped by a magical event that granted him his incredible talents and led him to Eleanor, the woman he would eventually marry. The second, more structured version of “Eileen Aroon” (No. 393) reflects this more dynamic, adventurous aspect, offering a slightly more formal and confident tone.

Both versions of the song serve as musical representations of these different aspects of love and fate. The slower version (No. 392) invites listeners into a world of introspection, making it perfect for moments of deep emotional connection in therapeutic music. The more rhythmic version (No. 393) echoes the magical, unpredictable journey of O’Carolan, embodying the spirited life of the harper who, with his magical gifts, captured the hearts of all who heard him play.

In bedside harp therapy, weaving these two stories together allows for a rich, multifaceted narrative. The therapeutic musician could begin a visit by sharing the tale of Eileen and Cahir, introducing themes of enduring love and gentle devotion. Then, they can move into O’Carolan’s more adventurous and magical tale, linking the two through the shared themes of love and destiny. By playing both settings of “Eileen Aroon,” the session can evoke different emotional tones, helping patients connect to the beauty and complexity of love, whether it be quiet and tender or filled with magic and fate.

Lyrics:

Mo ghrá thú den chéad fhéachaint, is tú Eileanóir a rún
Is ort a bhím ag smaoineamh tráth a mbím im shuain.
A ghrá den tsaol is a chéad-searc
Is tú is deise ná ban Éireann
A bhruinnilín deas óig, is tú is deise milse póig
Chúns mhairfead beo beidh gean a’m ort
Mar is deas mar a sheolfainn gamhnaí leat, a Eileanóir a rún.

Now, Carolan starts praising her. ‘She has a gift’, he says, ‘she could get the birds off the limbs of the trees; and she has another gift I’ll never tell anybody until such a time as we get married.’

‘S bhí bua aici go meallfadh sí na héanlaith ón gcrann
‘S ba mhílse blas a póigín ná a chuaichín roimh an lá
Bhí bua eile aici nach ndéarfad
Sí grá mi chroí ‘s mo chead-searc
A bhruinnilín deas óig, is tú is deise milse póig
Chúns mhairfead beo beidh gean a’m ort
Mar is deas mar a sheolfainn gamhnaí leat, a Eileanóir a rún.

Well, Carolan always said, ‘Is deas mar a sheolfainn gamhnaí leat’ — ‘I would love to drive the cattle with you’. Because he was thinking of the white cow that made him the man he was. So he’s always talking about driving the cattle with Eleanor.

Lyrics in English:

You’re my love at first-sight, Eleanor my secret.
It’s of you that I am thinking while I lie asleep
My love and my first treasure
You are the best of the women of Ireland
Lovely young maiden, you have the nicest, sweetest kiss
As long as I live I will desire you
For I would love to drive the calves with you, Eleanor my secret.

She had the gift that she could entice the birds from the trees
And the taste of her kiss was sweeter than the cuckoo before day
She had another gift that I will not tell
She is the love of my heart and my first treasure
Lovely young maiden, you have the nicest, sweetest kiss
As long as I live I will desire you
For I would love to drive the calves with you, Eleanor my secret.

In these verses, Carolan speaks of his love for Eleanor, praising her beauty and charm. He expresses how her presence enchanted him from the moment he saw her. The phrase “I would love to drive the calves with you” is particularly symbolic, referencing both the white cow that blessed him with his gifts and his desire to share his life with Eleanor. The song is a tender reflection of love, skill, and the magical connection that brought Carolan and Eleanor together.

The listener can decide for themselves which tale they would like to believe...

My personal leadsheets are in both the key of C (which works well for wirestrung harp) and the key of D (which works well for lever harp, hammer dulcimer and fiddle). As for the setting that was captured by Edward Bunting, it resembled the slow and lyrical version of the tune, 392. Bunting's work focused on preserving these traditional airs, but the tune was a much older traditional Irish air, predating O'Carolan. In oral tradition and storytelling, over time, the lines between fact and folklore blur, and the stories become part of a broader cultural legacy.

Enjoy!